Another "bof" Ulti exp, returning from Croatia with KL. I was flying SPU-AMS-CDG, all KL metal. Last week, I asked the TA if there was a lounge in SPU. Quick answer : yes there is a Slyteam lounge you have access to and location in the terminal was mentioned. Great. I knew that it was surely not a ST lounge, but rather an airport lounge, but this was a detail without importance.

Impossible to do OLCI from SPU (not even a preliminary check-in without BP obtention) ==> check-in counter mandatory. In SPU, check-in counters are neither flight nor airline specifics. Very rare configuration where 2 type of counters are open : those labeled "all flights" and those labeled "business class". I go to the latter, check one bag. No priority label on bag (apparently, KL did not provide them). BP was not mentioning status, no SP mention, just basic info. I am told that they cannot give me my BP for the AMS-CDG for an unknown reason. I asked confirmation for the lounge being after security. The agent said yes, but I don't think KL pax have access to it. OKayyyy .
I arrive at the lounge (it is indeed an airport lounge) and I have confirmation that KL pax do not have access anymore to the lounge because KL did not renew the contract .

I was very unhappy, because 1) this situation happens more and more with KL who does not contract with a lounge in some stations, while they could and they are leaving their premium & Elite + pax without lounge option, and 2) I was given again wrong information by the Ulti TA.
Waiting at the gate, I replied to the TA using the email received with the (wrong) lounge information to inform them about the various problems and that I was finding unacceptable the lack of lounge while there is one. I said also that I have no incentive in those conditions to fly with KL and next time I can fly OU for cheaper and without bad surprise because I will expect nothing.
- TA (another person than the one who gave me the wrong louge info) : "In outstations, the various lounges comply with airline regulations, I regret that you were unable to access them as you would have liked."
- Me (as I was not understanding what it meant) : "interesting concept within the context of my question. I take good note of this"
- TA : "The Split Airport Lounge is a business lounge managed by Star Alliance airlines which have signed a contract. Air France and KLM, in fact, do not have an agreement in place with the lounge at Split airport. I regret that you were unable to access the lounge at this airport as desired and thank you for your understanding."
- Me : this is not a *A lounge but an airport lounge, so any airline serving SPU can sign up with this lounge if wished. And the airport staff told me that KL was using this lounge before. And even if it was true that it was a *A lounge, why your service told me there was a (Skyteam) lounge accessible for KL pax ?

I really could not believe those futile exchanges. What's the point of this TA service with all those approximations and wrong information?
Later in the evening, I received a final response from another TA confirming that it was an airport lounge and not a *A lounge and that I was given wrong info.

For the rest of the experience :
- SPU-AMS : 100% full flight. No special attention (but good service, certainly nothing to complain about. Crew was very professional when, on departure, they had to offload an unruly pax who did not want to wear a mask or wear it properly)
- transit AMS : was hard to obtain my BP for connecting flight. Impossible to have it at a kiosk, very hard to find an attended transfer desk. As I passed by Lounge 52, I stopped there and the lounge attendant was finally able to obtain it (no idea what was blocking). I stayed 10 min in the deserted lounge (I think there were 20 pax max at 3 pm)
- AMS-CDG : low load (ca 1/3). Extra attention on-board with greetings and bottle of Cava + snacks